Meridian plans new magnet school program

MERIDIAN, Idaho – The state’s largest school district plans to launch a new magnet school program, expanding on the philosophy of offering different academic programs to different kinds of learners.

Meridian’s Joint School District No. 2 has formed a committee to decide how many new magnet programs should open, where to put them and what courses will be offered.

The district started experimenting with specialized schools more than 10 years ago, and currently has 13 magnet programs or schools.

Adding more magnet schools would be good for students and could alleviate some of Meridian’s crowded classes, Superintendent Linda Clark said.

Like charter schools, magnet schools are also public schools that offer specialized curriculum. The key difference, state education officials say, is that charter schools are initiated by parents, whereas magnet schools are started by the district itself.

Donna Szathmary lives in Meridian and has two children at the Christine Donnell School of the Arts, which follows an arts-based curriculum.

“In theory,” said Szathmary, “magnet schools like Donnell shouldn’t be necessary.” All kids should be able to study band, orchestra, foreign language and dance as part of the normal school day. But that’s not the case, she said.

The Donnell School, which opened this fall, is nearly full. There are only a few slots left in the fifth and sixth grades and a waiting list of 75 for kindergarten through fourth grade.

Crowding is an issue across the district. Sixteen of the district’s 37 schools are over capacity, though a number of schools have space to accommodate new magnet programs.

“Crowding is certainly one of the things we’re thinking about,” said district spokesman Eric Exline. “If we can put some magnets in less-crowded schools, that could attract kids from other parts of the district.”

The magnet school push comes at a time when the Meridian district has struggled with its finances. The district won’t spend more money to add magnet schools, Clark said, and it could actually save money.